Architectural model construction set



July 3, 1951 D. SCHWARTZ ARCHITECTURAL MODEL CONSTRUCTION SET 2SheetsSheet 1 .F'iled Oct. 17, 1949 ATIOKNE K July 3, 1951 M. D.SCHWARTZ ARCHITECTURAL MODEL CONSTRUCTION SET 2 S heefs-Sheet 2 FiledOct. 1'7, 1949 k INVENTOR.

M/CHAH .D. SC/lWfl/PT Z. BY

AITORNEY.

Patented July 3, 1951 U N ETED STATES ATENT OFFICE Michael D. Schwartz,Brooklyn, N. Y. Application October 17, 1949, Serial No. 121,713

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to an architectural model construction set.

Architects and other designers of buildings such as private homes,office buildings, club houses, garages and the like, frequently find itdifficult to adequately and satisfactorily portray a proposed design toa layman when the sole means at their disposal for illustrating orpicturing the design is a series of perspective drawings or scaleblueprints which the layman is often unable to read. It has accordinglybeen proposed to make use of architectural scale models to present thenew design to the prospective home owner or builder who cannot otherwiseappreciate the new design in its ultimate efiect. Many of thesearchitectural scale models are well executed but they are quiteexpensive and difiicult to set up, as well as being considerablytime-consuming both in their assembling and disassembling processes.Other architectural scale models are exceedingly limited in theirapplication so that a given kit, for example, will sufiice forconstructing a single scale model or a series of scale models which arebasically similar to each other, but the same kit cannot be used forscale models which are somewhat diiferent in construction or appearance.Thus in some kits complete rooms are provided which cannot be changed inany respect by the architect, except possibly to rearrange the manner inwhich the several rooms of a given building are interrelated. In otherkits, complete walls are prefabricated so that once again the architectis deprived of the ability to satisfactorily present the particulardesign which he has in mind.

It is accordingly the principal object of this invention to provide anarchitectural model construction set which can be used by the architectin presenting to his client virtually every design which he is able tocreate. In the construction set of the present invention, the buildingunits are free from any architectural type, style or periodcharacteristics, except insofar as it may be desired to limit them toany of these characteristics. Each building unit standing alone gives nohint of the architectural design of the building in. which it may beincorporated. It is only when several of the building units arecombined'or assembled that the design characteristics of the buildingbecome apparent. In other words, the several building units of thepresent invention are individually devoid of the architecturalsignificance so that they may be used in the building of models ofvirtually every architectural type, style or period.

Another important objectof the present invention is the provision of anarchitectural model construction set of the character described whichmay very readily and quickly be assembledand equally as readily andquickly be disassembled. Some of the parts or units of this constructionset may be assembled by simply standingthem adjacent each other.v Otherparts or units may be assembled by simply resting themupon other partsor units. Where desired, exceedingly simple clips may be used to holdadjacent parts together. Siding, for example, may be held in line bysimply inserting thin dowels into adjacent siding sections.

Still another important object of the presentinvention is the provisionof an architecturalmodel construction set of the character describedwhich may be employed in modular planning and designing. The severalbuildings units comprising this set are all proportional to each otherin size, and they are also. proportional to the life size buildings andbuilding units which they simulate.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an architecturalmodel construction set J wherein the inner and outer wall finishes andsurfaces as well as the floor and roof finishes and surfaces areinterchangeable in any given building model so that the samearchitectural design may be portrayed and displayed with the varyingeffects which different wall and floor surfaces and finishes produce.Thus, for example, it is possible to show a given outer wall surface asit would appear in red brick and the same outer wall surface as it wouldappear in white siding. A given floor may be presented with a linoleumcovering and the same floor may be shown with a covering of woodflooring. A roof may be shown with a wooden shingle eifect, and it mayalso be shown covered with asphalt shingle.

These and other advantages of the present invention will become moreclearly apparent from a reading of the specification. It will alsoappear from the specification that the specific building units which areshown in the drawing are merely illustrative of the many kinds ofbuilding units which may be provided and had within the broad scope ofthe present invention. The several finishes herein presented should alsobe understood as being merely illustrative of the many finishes whichmay be had in accordance with the present invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a plurality ofbuilding units made inaccordance ent invention, showing them in assembled position in thecourse of constructing a private home.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a corner of saidbuilding showing a window mounted therein and one type of wall coveringmounted on the wall.

Fig. 3 is a perspective, exploded view of the window and window frame.

Fig. 4 is a perspective assembled view of some a of the roof units ofthe set.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of said roof units and especially ofwhat may be described as the gable thereof.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the clips shown in Fig. 2, bywhich the window and window frame are aflixed to the wall panels.

Fig. 6a is a top view, partly in section, showing how said clips areconnected to the window and wall panels.

Fig. '7 is a perspective view of another clip shown in Fig. 2, by whichan inner wall surface may be attached to a wall panel.

Fig. 8 is another perspective view of a clip shown in Fig. 4, by whichthe roof units may be connected to the gables.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view through the roof assembly showing how theclip of Fig. 8 holds the roof and gable together.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a'door and door frame assembly showingthe use of clips similar to those shown in Figs. 2, 6 and 6a.

Fig. 11 is a perspective, exploded view of said door and door frame.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of another building unit shown in Fig. 1,this unit constituting a corner of the house.

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of another building unitshown in Fig. 1,this unit constituting the wall panel under one of the windows.

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of one of the wall .panel finishingmaterials.

Fig. 15 is a perspective view of a pair of siding sections, showing howthey are aligned by means of a dowel.

Fig. 16 is a perspective view of a simulated brick wall section.

Fig. 17 is a perspective view of a wood panel type of wall section.

Fig. 18 is a perspective view of a modified door and door frameconstruction.

Fig. 19 is a fragmentary sectional view thereof.

The building construction herein claimed has no structural framework.The walls support the upper structure, whether it be a second story orthe roof itself, and the several parts of the construction are merelyplaced one upon the other, or side by side, with no tying meanswhatsoever holding the several parts together, with the sole exceptionof a few clips which hold certain parts together. The principalstructural elements, therefore, are the wall panels, such as the 4 X 8panels 20, the 2 X 8' panels 2|, the 4' x 4' panels 22, the 2 X 4 panels23, the 2' x 6' panels 24, the 2' X 8' panels (these panels are 2 highand 8 long whereas the previously mentioned 2 x 8 panels 2! are 8 highand 2' wide), and the 2' X 12 panels 26. These dimensions relate to theactual size of the proposedbuilding and not to the size of the model.The scale of the model is /8" to the foot so that an 8 wall is only 3"high'in the model.

The panels which are 8 high are floor to ceiling wall panels. The panelswhich are either 2' or 4' high extend from the fioor to the winwith thepresdows, some windows being full length and others being positioned 2,4 or 6 above the floor. A typical wall panel is shown in Fig. 13. Thewall panel therein shown is the 2 x 4 panel which has above beenidentified by means of the reference character 23. It will be seen insaid Fig. 13 that this panel comprises a wall portion 2311 which extendsvertically, and a floor portion 23b which extends horizontally, the twoportions being integral with each other and constituting an angularmember wherein the two panels 230. and 231) are perpendicular to eachother. Vertical portion 23a constitutes the wall panel proper andhorizontal portion 23b constitutes a supporting stand therefor. It is,therefore, possible to erect the wall panel by simply standing it upon atable or other suitable horizontal surface. There is no need to nail itdown, or cement it or affix it in any other way, either to the tableitself or to any adjacent parts of the model structure. All of the wallsare built in the. same manner, with the sole exception of the cornerwalls to which reference will now be made.

It will be seen in Fig. 1 that several corner walls are provided: a 2' X82 x 8' corner panel 30, a 2' X 8'l X 8 corner panel 3|, a 4 X 8'- 4' X8' corner panel 32, a 4' x 8- 6 X 8 corner panel 33, a 4' x 88 X 8'corner panel 34, and a 6 x 8-8 X 8 corner panel 35. Corner panel 33 isclearly shown in Fig. 12 and it will there be seen that it comprises a4' x 8' panel 330. and a 6' x 8 panel 3%, both panels extendingvertically and being connected to each other in perpendicularrelationship. There is no need for a horizontal portion to support thiscorner panel since the mere fact that it comprises two verticallyextending panels which are normal to each other is sufficient to renderit self-supporting on any suitable horizontal surface.

It will be understood that the wall panel sizes above mentioned aremerely illustrative of the several sizes which would be appropriate in aconstruction kit of the character described. A

somewhat more complete list of sizes follows:

These wall sizes are applicable not only to the wall panels havinghorizontal stands but also to the wall panels which constitute thecorner walls of the construction.

It will be understood from the dimensions above given, that theconstruction set herein described and claimed is suitable for modularplanning. The proportions which have been followed in designing the wallpanels have also been followed in designing the other elements of thepresent model construction set so that all of its parts are based uponthe modular principle.

It will also be observed from the foregoing that there is no basicdifference between the wall panels and the corner walls. In both casesthere are two panels which are integral with each other and they aredisposed at right angles with respect to each other. In practicaleffect, both comprises a rectangular piece of sheet metal or othersuitable material folded once: in the wall panel construction, thefolding line is horizontal, in the corner wall construction the foldingline is vertical. The words folding line are used broadly, since the useof certain materials and methods of production would avoid a foldingoperation. Reference is here had to plastics material molded to requiredshape.

The Wall panels and corner walls hereinabove described and hereinaftercollectively referred to as walls or-wall panel's may be provided withsuitable covering, both on the inside and on the outside. Insidefinishes .are illustrated in Figs. 2, l4 and 17. In Fig. 2 an insidepanel is shown clipped to one of the wall panels by means of a U-shapedclip 4|, best shown in Fig. 7. Inside panel 40 has a stippled effect tosimulate plastered .wall with paint surfaces. It may be colored inaccordance with any interior decorating scheme. The inside panel shownin Fig. 2 is a 4' X 8 panel. In Fig. 14, a 6 x 8' inside panel 42 isshown .and this panel may be clipped to a 6 X 8 wall panel by the .samemeans used in attaching panel 40 to the corner wall panel shown in Fig..2. Inside finishing panel 42 is simply a painted panel and, of course,it may be painted in anysuitable color. It .may be used as an outsidepanel equally as well, when it is desired to effect va plain, solidcolored outer wall, such as a poured concrete wall. Inside panel 43,shown in Fig. 17, simulates wood paneling and, asa matter of fact, itmay be made of a sheetof suitable plywood cut to appropriate size andshape. Fig. 16 shows an outside panel 44 with a simulated brick finish.This, of course, is purely illustrative since the finish may just aswell be of simulated stone,

such as field-stone, if so desired. Again, this panel may be attached toanywall panel of corresponding dimensions by simply clipping it there-:to by means of the U -shaped clip 4|. Panels 45 shown in Fig. 15simulate horizontal siding. These panels may be made of corrugatedcardboard since the corrugations provide the desired effect. Theseboards or panels maybe .attached to the wall panels in the manner abovedescribed, and to assist in aligning them horizontally, dowels 46 may beinserted into aligned corrugations of adjacent panels.

The .floors are simply rectangular boards, sheets or panels laid fiatupon the horizontally extending portions of the wall panels. They may,if desired, comprise sheets of single thickness or sheets -.of doublethickness. In Fig. l, .a .floor panel 50 is shown comprising two plies,the lower ply 50a comprising a sheet of metal or other suitable materialand the upper ply 5% comprising a sheet of lineoleum or material whichsimulates linoleum. This, of course, is purely illustrative since theupper ply or panel may be made to simulate wood flooring, or carpeting,or any other suitable andappropriate type of floor covering. Floor panelor board 50 shown in Fig. 1 is an 8 X 16' panel. There are other floorpanels shown in the same figure, to wit floor panels 5] which are 8 X.16 in dimension, but extending in different directions, and floorpanels 52 which are 16' X 16' in dimension. It will be noted in Fig. 1that the horizontal portions of the wall panels are of different sizes,that is, of different lengths, their widths corresponding to the widthsof their respective vertical portions. The taller wall panels areprovided with longer horizontal portions to stabilize them but this hasno effect upon their respective ability to support the floor panels, andit will clearly be seen in said Fig. 1 that the floor panels completelycover and conceal the horizontal portions of the wall panels so that auniform and pleasing efiect is thereby produced.

The door construction is best shown in Fig. 11 where the two partsthereof are shown in un- -'6 assembled condition and in Fig. 10 saidparts are shown assembled. The door construction comprises a door frame60 having avertically extending portion 60a with a doorway 60b formedtherein, and a horizontally extending portion =6llc. Horizontal portion600 corresponds to horizontal portion 231) shown in Fig. '13, and it isprovided for the purpose of supporting the verticalportion or doorframeproper 60a. The door itself 6| may be mounted in the doorway 60b in themanner shown in Fig. 1.0.v A door panel 52 may be'connected to thedoorto simulate any suitable or desirable door finish. Clips .63 may beattached to the door in .the manner shown in Fig.310 -,(see also Fig.6a). A perspective view-of one of said clips 63 is shown in Fig. 6 andit :will there be seen that said clip comprises a narrow, 'U-shapedmember" whose links or arms 63a and 63b, respectively, are bent at rightangles intermediate their ends so. as to form a .substantially L-sha-pedclip. That portion of the .clip, which lies between the yoke and thebends in the legs engages the posts of the door and that portion whichlies between said bends in the legs and the free ends of said legsengages the wall panelsada jacent the door. Although Fig. 2 and Fig. 6arelate to the window construction, the use of clips 63 is thereinclearly shown.

What has been said of the door construction is substantially true of thewindow construction. Each window comprises a window frame 1013,1161 awindow or sash 1|. The window frame has an opening '12 formed thereinwhich accommodates the window or sash. The window or sash H is adaptedto rest upon one of the shorter wall panels as Fig. 2 clearly shows.Clips 63 are used to fasten the window or sash to the adjacent wallpanels in the same manner that the door frame is fastened to theadjacent wall panel. The window and door may be made of any suitablematerial, such as metal, stamped and bent to ap: propriate form. Thewindow frame and door frame may also be made of any suitable material,such as die-cut cardboard. I

The final construction element is the roof which, in the drawing, is ofpitched or peaked shape. This is, of course, merely illustrative of themany roof forms which may be provided in a construction kit made inaccordance with the present invention. As shown in Fig. 4, the roofcomprises a sheet bent to simulate a pair of roof panels BI and .82,respectively, which rest upon a pair of gables 83. Tie-rods or bands 84are provided for supporting the gables and for affixing the roof panels,to said gables. Each tierodor tie-band comprises an elongated strip ofmaterial such as metal, whose two ends are bent upwardly and backwardlyupon the main body thereof, the angle between said bent ends and themain body of the tie-rod corresponding to the pitch of the roof. Clips85 are provided to position the gable ends with respect to the roofpanels as Fig. 8 Will show that said clips comprise a strip of metal orother suitable material Which is bent over on itself, in spacedrelation, and is then bent outwardly at right angles thereto, the mainportion thereof being designated by means of the reference character 85,the first bent portion by the reference character 85b and the third bentportion by the reference character 85c. The two portions 85a and 85breceive the roof panel between them and portion 850 provides a backrestor back stop for the gable 83.

Figs. 18 and 19 show another form of door and door frame construction.It will be understood '7 that although these figures relate to a doorand door frame, the principle which they disclose is equally applicableto a window and window frame construction. More specifically, a doorframe 90 is provided having a flange 9| on all sides thereof, that is,said flange projects upwardly from the top of said door frame,downwardly from the bottom of said door frame, and sidewardly from thetwo sides of said door frame. It is, in effect, a rectangular panelhaving a rectangular opening formed therein to accommodate the doorframe proper. A similar rectangular panel 92 having a similarrectangular opening 93 formed therein, is also provided, but whereasrectangular panel or flange 9| may be fixedly attached to the door frame90, or integral therewith, rectangular panel or flange 92 is acompletely separate entity which may be mounted upon the door frame inthe manner shown in Fig. 19. Flange 92 is a removable member'which maybe mounted on the door frame or removed therefrom as and when desired.

It will be noted that this construction obviates the need of clips, suchas clips 63 shown in Fig. 10. Flanges 91 and 92 serve as two retainingwalls between which a panel 95 may be placed. Panel 95 may comprise anysuitable wall panel or similar member and the sole connection'betweensaid wall panel and the door frame would be the connection provided bysaid rectangular panels or flanges 9| and 92.

The window frames are provided in modular sizes, representing incrementsof two feet:

The door frames are also made in modula sizes, as follows:

4' x 8 4' X 8 double casement door comprising two 2- doors.

As has above been stated, the foregoing is descriptive of a, preferredform of this invention and modifications and additions may beincorporated therein within the broad scope and coverage of theinvention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In an architectural model construction set, a plurality of wallpanels which are self-supporting, each wall panel comprises a pair ofpanel members which are disposed at right angles to each other, and aroof which rests upon said wall panels, said roof comprising a pair ofgables, a pair of roof panels resting on said gables, and a pair oftie-bands supporting said gables and securing the roof panels thereto,said tie-bands comprising elongated bands whose ends are bent backwardlyupon the main body of the bands at an angle corresponding to the pitchof the roof.

2. In an architectural model construction set, a plurality of wallpanels which are self-supporting, each wall panel comprising a pair ofpanel members which are disposed at right angles to each other, anda'roof which rests upon said wall panels, said roof comprising a pair ofroof panels resting upon a pair of gables, clips being provided to affixthe roof panels to the gables, including clips which have horizontalU-shaped portions which engage the roof panels and downwardly extendingvertical portions which serve as back stops for the gables.

3. In an architectural model construction set, a plurality of wallpanels which are self-supporting, each wall panel comprising a pair ofpanel members which are disposed at right angles to each other, aplurality of said panels when contiguously placed constituting a wall,said wall having openings therethrough and a plurality f windows anddoors clipped to said wall in said openings, said doors and windows eachcomprising 21. facing sheet of material adapted to overlap and lieagainst adjacent wall panels, an opening through said sheet material, aframe fabricated of sheet material to fit within said openingperpendicularly to the plane of the facing sheet and extendingrearwardly thereof, U-shaped clips being provided to clip the windowsand doors to the wall panels,-each said U-shaped clip comprising spacedarms defining a bight portion there'- between, the arms of said U shapedclips being bent intermediate their respective ends at right angles tothe main body of the clips to substantially L shape, the bight portionof the clips embracing the frame, and the arms of the clips re ceivingbetween them the wall panels.

MICHAEL D. SCHWARTZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

